RIVERFEST '98 CELEBRATES 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SOMETHING FOR ALL

Riverfest is celebrating its 20th anniversary Friday and Saturday with music, food, events and activities for the whole family.

Twenty bands will perform on five stages or stroll the streets of downtown Cape throughout the two-day festival. The air will be filled with different styles of music including rock, R & B, country, jazz, blues and bluegrass from bands such as Brown Baggers, New World Spirits, Dave's Dixieland Band and Under the Influence.

Also, people can enjoy food from the food court, concession stands or a number of restaurants that will have outdoor patios set up for the occasion.

Several old and new Riverfest events will add to the food and music downtown.

The first-ever Bungee Run, sponsored by the Downtown Merchants' Association, will make its debut Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

A bungee run?

"It's very hard to describe," said Judith Ann Lang with the Downtown Merchants' Association. "You almost just have to see it."

A two-lane inflatable run, like a dog run, is set up. Bungee cords are strapped to two runners who are given velcro-laced batons. The runners try to reach as far as they can and attach the baton to the velcro-lined walls of the run. The runner who gets the farthest wins.

"It's really fun," Lang said. She said her daughter tried bungee running on her high school's senior trip last year to Gatlinburg, Tenn. "She and her friends just had a blast."

And if people have a blast during this year's bungee run, which will cost $3 per person, Lang said some big-competition may ensue next year. "We might try to get some local competition going," she said. "We might have the Elks against the Eagles, policemen against firemen or maybe the mayor of Jackson against the mayor of Cape."

Another activity is the 16th Annual Kohlfeld Riverfest Run, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The 5.25-mile run will start at the Convention and Visitor's Center at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway, make its way down Main Street to Cape Rock Drive and circle around the scenic Cape Rock lookout to follow back along the same route to the finish line.

Joy Gilbert, who is helping organize the run with the Cape Girardeau Road Runners Club, expects more than 300 runners this year. "It's the biggest race in Southeast Missouri," she said.

A one-mile run/walk will also take place on Main Street. Race day registration for both events will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the race starting line.

Saturday morning begins with a visit from Barney at 10:30 in the Family Area, located at the foot of the courthouse steps at the intersection of Spanish and Themis streets.

The Bungee Run will continue from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

The Ride-N-Grind Bicycle Stunt Show will take place on Main Street from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

A popular event from years past is the turtle race. Turtles will begin racing 3 p.m. at the Family Area, followed by the best-dressed turtle judging.

"It's another neat family activity at Riverfest," said Peggy Barringer, who has been involved in organizing the turtle activities for several years. "A lot of kids look forward to this every year."

The second annual fiddler contest will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the family area. Registration for the contest is at 3:15 p.m.

There will be two divisions competing in the fiddler contest -- the Junior Division, for contestants 17 and under, and the Senior Division, for contestants 18 and over. Contestants are required to perform three pieces each. The pieces include a hoe down or breakdown, a waltz and a tune of the contestant's choice.

Judging will be based on tone, timing and execution. First-place in each division will receive $80, second will receive $40, and third will receive $30.

A fireworks display will finish the festivities at 9 p.m. on the Mississippi Riverfront.